Careers in this Field

Here are some of the possibilities open to those who study accounting:

Public accountants—Certified public accountants (CPAs) provide auditing, tax, and management advisory services to individual and corporate clients in many industries. In Indiana, you need a bachelor's degree in accounting plus additional course work to qualify to take the CPA exam.

Accountants within organizations—Private companies, governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations all offer opportunities for those with accounting degrees.

Management analysts—Accounting provides a good background for a career as a management analyst or consultant, who analyze and propose ways to improve an organization's structure, efficiency, or profits. An accounting graduate in this role may be involved in the design and maintenance of accounting software systems.

Banking and finance positions—Careers in these fields are attractive options for accounting graduates.

Executive-level opportunities—Many accounting graduates move during their careers from accounting roles into management positions such as controller or financial vice president, and even company president, chief executive officer, or business owner.

Legal positions—An accounting degree also provides a solid undergraduate foundation for legal studies leading to a career in corporate or tax law.

Compensation

Accounting careers hold the promise of solid incomes.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for accountants and analysts in 2007 was $57,060, with the highest 10 percent taking home an average of $98,220 a year. Those who move into management analyst positions earned a median of $71,150.

For those in executive-level positions, earnings potentials are particularly high. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants reports that within businesses, chief financial officers and treasurers can expect salaries ranging from $91,000 to $370,500, depending upon experience and the size of the company.

Recruiting Ball State Students

Organizations seeking excellent accounting majors know that Ball State is a good place to look. The Big Four public accounting firms all recruit on campus, as do numerous regional and local CPA firms, private businesses, governmental agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. Here is a sampling of employers who have recruited accounting majors on Ball State's campus recently:

Also check into the wealth of information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau offers details on training, qualifications, working conditions, job outlook, related occupations, and earning potential.